Kindergarten in China is for children 3-5 years old and typically meets in a different building from elementary (primary) school. Today (June 25) I visited thee classes at the Kindergarten associated with Shaan'xi Normal University (Shida kindergarten). That's right, three classes. Even though these children, ages 3-5 are in kindergarten, they still move from teacher to teacher for different classes. But, these classes are by no means an academic "sweat shop". I saw some of the best, most age-appropriate inquiry teaching on my entire trip at this school. The first class, 19 5-year-olds, followed the 5-E learning cycle perfectly. Here is a brief step-by-step summary of the 5-E learning cycle* and what the Shida teacher and students did for each step. The topic for the day was locks.
- Engage: The teachers brought the students over to a table with many examples of locks with keys.
- Explore: The students played with the locks.
- Explain: The teacher and students discussed the similarities and differences between the locks.
- Elaborate: The teacher pulled a combination lock from her pocket and asked the students how this lock was different. Then, she showed pictures of different door locks.
- Evaluate: Each student had to take a lock from the back table and use it to lock an object in the room. The teacher brought a bike, scooter, deck, and suitcase.
What good is kindergarten without playtime? Here, playtime has a purpose. The teacher and students played a dancing game in which the teacher and one student represented a lock that closes around students as they dance in a circle to music.
After two more classes for younger children, I went outside for recess. The children loved asking, SHOUTING, "What is your name?", "Do you want to play with us?", "How old are you?". Here I am answering the question, "How many years did you spend in kindergarten?".
* For more information about the 5-E learning cycle, please see http://www.bscs.org/pdf/bscs5eexecsummary.pdf.
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